Should I get a massage when I am sick?

Bummer, you woke up with a sore throat and the sniffles on the day of your monthly massage appointment and you are asking yourself “should I get a massage when I am sick? Your body is cold and achy and part of you thinks the massage will make you feel better, the other half of you is screaming to put the blankets over your head and sleep it all away.

The truth is that it is best to stay home when you feel an illness coming on, have a full blown issue, or could in any way be contagious. How massage will effect your body when you are sick will vary for each person. For some it shortens the life span of the sickness while making it worse for a time, for others it has no effect at all. Instead of venturing out and possibly sharing your illness with your therapist and other clients, stay home and allow your immune system to be the boss and do what it needs to do to make sure you get well as quickly as possible. This means resting and drinking plenty of fluids. Your body, your therapist, and all of those that could be exposed will thank you, even if it means you have to cancel last minute.

Tis’ the season for many things and unfortunately virus’s are one of them. Here are a few tips for prevention:

Get plenty of rest

Wash your hands often

Eat a variety of fruits, veggies and whole grains

Exercise regularly

Get acupuncture to support your immune system

Keep stress to a minimum! (massage helps reduce stress so get massage while you are healthy!)